Soy pics and shared swim lanes

I’m out of the Airbnb and crashing with friends until I sign my lease on Monday (thanks kind friends & family). It’s in a great part of town, Windsor, where there’s lots of cafes and great food spots (I’m started to believe there aren’t any neighborhoods in this town not like this).

Here’s a rough map of where things stand:
Green flags are where I want to go. Yellow stars where I’ve been and liked. My future apartment is in the south (St Kilda East), pretty close to one of the pools I’ll swim at. The other pool is up by my Mandarin class, further north.

Quick stats for this week:

• 3 books read + 1 graphic novel (I’ll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara was riveting and equally frightening!)
• 3 movies watched + the Surviving R. Kelly series (eesh! Convict that man already)
• Averaging 1.2 bug bites a day since I landed
• At least one coffee a day, always a soy piccolo (“soy pic”). More on that later.
• 20 mi walked (32 km)
• Number of transactions I’ve paid using only my phone (ie Apple Pay): ALL minus one cash only food spot
• 2 spiders killed (only a zillion to go)

A piccolo is a ristretto shot topped with milk and some foam, served in a shot glass. It’s a teeny latte, which suits me more since a full sized drink is always too much volume for me. Plus, a piccolo is so fun to order. I also love that here their soy/oat milks aren’t sweetened at all. I am drinking a lot of these.

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My drivers license appointment is tomorrow morning! Hope it’s nothing too complicated but it’s mostly a formality as I don’t plan on driving here for a while. Those roundabouts frighten me. I know they’re more efficient but anything more than two lanes on those and I’d not know what to do with myself.

I’ve been swimming at two different pools, and boy do I miss the work pool. One’s at the Uni and it’s at a lovely 74F and only lightly chlorinated. The other is a salt water pool but waaay too warm, closer to 85F (especially considering it’s been over 90s a lot lately). I’ve been sharing lanes and learning how to circle swim with up to 5 others in a lane. I’m getting in the water though and I’ll find the better windows of time where hopefully it’s less crowded. This country is full of outdoor go-getters! The view from the St Kilda Sea Baths is superb though (salt water one).

Even after my surprise rainstorm last week, I got caught in the rain again yesterday. It was pouring out and I ran home in the rain, but I should really learn to read that weather app closer.

Utes still make me smile and I’ve seen these “fancier” ones, that are single tone and likely not driven by tradies. I think it’s more for gearheads, or “petrol heads” here. I can’t stop smiling when I see them! Such funny cars.

I knew this ahead of time, but I do love how everyone shortens everything. Brekkie. Avo. Soy Pic. Guess what they call Salvation Army? McDonalds?

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Separately, this is the most hipster table display I’ve seen so far:

Hipsters aside, the food here has been crazy tasty. I’ve had great recommendations from people, but the quality is just awesome. No tipping is THE best too. Still great service and without any additional math!

Getting a local library card, drivers license and bank account… it is feeling more real now. Moving into my spot will truly seal the deal, mainly so I can stop living out of suitcases. Still kind of can’t believe I’m here but I mean.. I am. Maybe it’ll hit when I see a koala or a kangaroo? I guess I’ll have to wait and see…